UN calls for boycott of Myanmar companies with military links

A UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission has urged foreign businesses and governments to sever ties with more than 140 companies owned or controlled by the Myanmar military Tatmadaw. 

In the report released by UNHRC yesterday, it said these companies help the Myanmar army to avoid public scrutiny and carry out human rights violations with impunity. 

It also called for the immediate imposition of targeted sanctions against companies run by the military. The report accused the military of carrying out extensive human rights violations against civilians in Kachin, Shan and Rakhine provinces,



including the forced deportation of more than 700,000 ethnic Rohingya to Bangladesh. 

The report says that Tatmadaw owns and operates Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited and the Myanmar Economic Corporation with interest in businesses like banking, insurance, tourism, jade and ruby mining among others.

Under the constitution of Myanmar, the Tatmadaw is not accountable to any civilian authority.

Last month US had imposed sanctions on top generals of the Myanmar army for their role in the atrocities carried out against the Rohingyas.